Bair, the former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., worked with Warren during the financial crisis, Politico reports. She is battling incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown in a race that some polls have placed at a statistical dead heat.

“We probably don’t agree on all the fiscal issues,” Bair said in an interview on CNN’s “Starting Point” program. “But on financial reform, we do."

“Most importantly, I think she’s a person of integrity who is going to be independent and do what is in the interest of the state of Massachusetts,” Bair added. “And we need more independent thinkers like that in Washington, people who will be independent of special interests.”

The latest Real Clear Politics average for the Massachusetts race shows Warren leading Brown, 50.5-46 percent, while a poll by The Boston Globe released on Monday showed the race tied at 47 percent each.